Core muscle strength affects learning

A weak or inflexible core can impair how the rest of the body functions, leading to poor concentration, which negatively impacts a child’s learning ability. By helping your child to build up strong core muscles, you’ll ensure that the rest of your child’s body functions at its optimum potential, improving concentration and aptitude for learning.

What are your core muscles?

Paediatric Physiotherapist and Clamber Club Expert, Nicole Hilburn defines core muscles as, “the muscles that act to stabilise your spine and maintain posture. In broad terms, the muscles of your pelvis, hips, abdomen and lower back, as well as the shoulders.” The muscles of the abdomen and back need to work together in order to stabilise the core. The more you move, the faster you move, the more stability you need from your core muscles to support you. “Your core muscles should allow you to carry out daily tasks with minimal effort and no strain on your body,” adds Hilburn.

Why are your core muscles important?

Your core muscles help to support your body and allow a child to use his/her arms and legs strongly and effectively. “Strong core muscles form the foundation for good posture, coordination and balance. All gross and fine motor skills rely on a stable core and so it makes sense that we encourage our children to get out there, get fit and exercise,” says Liz Senior, Occupational Therapist and founder of Clamber Club.

How does poor core stability affect learning and later sports skills?

A child who is sitting at a desk needs their core muscles to support them so that they are able to stay upright against gravity and use their eyes or hands effectively. “A child with poor core stability will be using other ways of keeping themselves up against gravity which are often ineffective and tiring, and will therefore either lose focus as a result, or their fine motor output will be poor,” explains Hilburn.

When it comes to the sports field, children with poor core stability cannot use their arms and legs efficiently, or find other ways of compensating. They may experience poor coordination and fatigue as a result, making sports activities difficult and frustrating for them.

What are the signs of poor core strength?

Poor posture such as rounded shoulders, pigeon-toed feet, and leaning on the insides of the feet

Heavy movements when running, jumping and hopping

Signs of trying to find stability when having to stand or sit still

Poor gross motor skills and clumsiness – may fall often

Difficulty climbing, and playing on unstable equipment such as bikes

Tires easily when walking for a longer period of time, and may ask to be picked up

Fun games and activities which help to improve core stability

Wheelbarrow walks

This is a great activity for trunk and shoulder girdle strength. Hold the child at the ankles, or if they struggle, then hold under the thighs. Try and go up and down the passage/across the garden a few times. The tummy should not sag, and you should not be able to see your child’s shoulder blades sticking out – if either happens, hold under the thighs or closer to the body.

Bridge

This activity strengthens the trunk and shoulder girdle, and is fun for all ages. Get your child to make a bridge with his body by bending over backwards. Roll a ball underneath and see how long he can stay up for!

Drawing under a table

This is a great activity for shoulder girdle strength. Tape a piece of paper to the underside of a children’s table. Let your child draw whilst lying on his back!

Crab walks

This activity strengthens the muscles of the back and pelvis. Get your child to sit on the ground with his/her knees bent. The hands should be placed on the ground behind/ him/her. Lift the bum off the ground to create an arch way. Just holding the position is great – you can pretend something is walking underneath the bridge.

Throwing a ball

Get your child to throw a ball from above his head. He can also bash the ball back to you. Holding the arms up strengthens the shoulder girdle, and the muscles of the back.

General strengthening activities

Swimming

Climbing a jungle gym

Monkey bars (from about 4 years)

Fireman’s pole (from about 4 years)

Jumping on a trampoline

When should you consult a physiotherapist?

A child who shows signs of poor core stability may benefit from a referral to physiotherapy if they are:

Not coping with activities which are age appropriate at school

Avoiding activities such as climbing on playground equipment or riding bikes

Poor socialising skills due to an inability to keep up with peers

Chooses more sedentary activities rather than running around or moves constantly and will not sit down for any length of time to do an activity

A cluster of these signs and symptoms may indicate that a child has poor core stability.

“Sometimes, extramural activities which are known to be good for strength are not enough, as a child who is weak will use compensatory strategies to do an activity, and overuses strong muscles, and underuses weak muscles,” says Nicole.

Therefore the extramural may not be strengthening the correct muscle groups, and one on one physio may be required to identify and strengthen the correct muscle groups so that a child is able to participate in all activities appropriate for his/her age with minimal effort, and is able to reach his/her full potential at school.